Weekend Events
Friday I went the "scenic route" to Parkland, a community where I have some friends, mostly farang, but also one Thai friend. I wasn't watching quickly enough and missed my Lemon Tree gas station where I was to get off the bus and ended up at Ram 2.
When I got off the bus at Ram 2, I asked some girls how to get to "Happyland" instead of Parkland. Now, Happyland is in an entirely different area of town, and as I got back on the bus I was told to take, I suddenly knew I had said the wrong area, but couldn't remember the real name (Parkland). So I jumped off the bus, crossed the road, and called my friend Lee to ask the correct name (which, of course, was Parkland).
Well, I still had no idea what I did wrong, so I hailed a taxi. But when I asked the driver to take me to Parkland, he said he had no idea where that was, could I call a Thai friend and put her on the phone with him. So I called Lee back and had her put our friend Rin on the phone. I immediately heard the taxi driver say, "OH, Bpaaglen!" (I obvioulsy had not pronounced it "correctly":). As he got off the phone, he pointed a couple hundred yards behind us and said, "You can walk to 'Bpaaglen' from here; it's right over there!" OK, that saved me a taxi fee, though I would've paid him just for his time (but he would have none of that).
So I walked the short distance to my friend Lee's apartment, where I arrived about 2 hours late, to laminate some English teaching materials on her laminator. Rin came back over after a bit, and the three of us worked together on the project. By 6:00 we still had quite a ways to go, but we decided to call it quits for the day.
We then walked out to a little restaurant close by where we ate supper. As we were eating, the Malone family, who also lives in that community, showed up for supper as well, so we moved to a bigger table and had a fun time eating and chatting together.
For some reason, they didn't trust me to get home taking a bus; they insisted on seeing that I got a taxi. Which, they said, would help them sleep easier.:)
On Saturday I taught my 2 English classes at the church in Paaknam from 10-4. Then that evening I met my friend Kwan for supper, after which we came back to my apartment for a "sleepover". She is so cute and so fun, and I was happy to see her make herself right at home in my apartment. I was also very excited to have a good talk with her after we had turned out the lights and said goodnight to each other a milion times.:)
This morning Anita met us here, and we took the bus to Seri Center, where Kwan connected with another bus, and Anita and I were to meet the rest of the team. But before parting ways, we took a couple pictures together.:)
So, when our team had gathered, we took a songtaew to Ram 9 Park to have team church. What a beautiful setting for worshipping God.
Eliza and I had some photogenic moments. Well, at least Eliza did.:) I don't feel very photogenic when I am hot and sweaty, especially in muggy weather like today.:) But in addition to the pics below, we got our pictures taken with a Thai girl who was having her graduation pictures taken at the park.:0
After church, we ate at the S & P Restaurant in the park. Air conditioning-yea! I ordered an omelet with rice, and when my platter came, I thought the little heart-shaped plate of rice was cute.:)
Raul kindly took a couple pictures for me of some of the group (since I was trapped in a corner). One of those pictures is below.
I arrived back to my apartment and had a few hours to relax and take a nap before heading downstairs to the office for a birthday supper for Rak, who turned 17 yesterday. It is always fun to eat with the family in the office. And tonight, Noy, the landlord's wife, and their two sons, Earth and Ink, joined us.
Tomorrow I am unsure what will be happening. Pok, a lady Anita and I met in Korat over the New Year, called and said she wants to visit us tomorrow, but so far I have no idea what time she wants to come, and there are about two or three other things that might be happening, depending on when she comes. Such is life in Thailand. Sabai, sabai!:)